Original 1981 Mimbres Painting by Helen Hardin

Helen Hardin's Original Mimbres Painting from 1981 is a striking original acrylic on board that demonstrates the artist's unmatched technical mastery and inventive vision in the final years of her career. Building the composition from a dynamic ground of speckled paint, Hardin layered increasingly opaque veils of color to create a surface that pulses with depth and movement. The technical complexity she achieved during this era remains unprecedented, showcasing a precision and control that few have equaled.

At the heart of the painting, a central figure emerges — a man with wings — evoking the ancient imagery of the Mimbres people, an inspiration Hardin continually reinterpreted throughout her body of work. The figure's form is anchored by exacting lines, likely drawn using drafting tools and a ruling pen, evidence of Hardin's meticulous methods.

Surrounding the winged figure are two concentric discs composed of triangular arrow motifs. The arrows in each ring face opposite directions, creating a powerful optical rotation that energizes the stillness of the central image. Echoes of the same arrow designs appear within the figure's abdomen, linking the outer movement to the internal rhythm of the form.

The painting is signed Tsa-Sah-Wee-Eh in the lower right and remains in excellent condition. It is presented in a two-tiered wood frame with a fabric matte, enhancing the work's layered depth and visual sophistication.

Executed with a brilliance of concept and craftsmanship, Mimbres Painting not only reflects Hardin's deep reverence for Native American heritage but also her fearless innovation in pushing traditional forms into a new and dynamic visual language. This 1981 masterwork stands as a shining example of Helen Hardin's legacy — where precision, invention, and cultural memory are perfectly fused.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Original 1981 Mimbres Painting by Helen Hardin is from the estate of a Santa Fe collector.

Recommended Reading:  Changing Woman: The Life and Art of Helen Hardin by Jay Scott

TAGS: Helen Hardin, Santa Clara Pueblo, Pablita Velarde, Native American symbols, Native American Paintings, Acoma Pueblo